Hey there, October. Whatcha got for us? Tons of releases, an abundance of tours, numerous prizes and other musical goodies, that’s what! Take a cozy sip of tea to fight the cold we know you, or someone you know, is currently fighting, and take a moment to scroll through some of the crispiest Autumn happenings at home or abroad from the Austrian music scene.
DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT
EAERES – comprised of Karolina Preuschl (vocals), Ursula Winterauer (bass), Katrin Euller (synths) and Leon Leder on drums – is a “doom pop” band from Vienna. The new collaboration between these fiercely individual musical characters has brought us a collection of powerful sonic magnitude with the title: “I love my sister”, which is set for release in cassette and digital album forms on October 9th on Ventil Records. The release concert will happen the same day at Fluc Vienna. “EAERES is the soundtrack to a gloomy indictment of relentless dominance.” – Ventil Records
A piece of work of sonic beauty and moving profundity – on her EP “Both” (Medienmanufaktur Wien), Viennese cellist MARIE SPAEMANN strikes exactly the right note that won’t let you go. Marie Spaemann’s 2019 album “Gap” already demonstrated that she is a musician who refuses to be pigeonholed into a particular genre. Her involvements in numerous projects and collaborations (including with Christian Bakanic) also prove that the Viennese cellist knows how to perform magnificently in a wide variety of styles and has developed her very own language between classical, chamber music, jazz and pop. On her new EP, “Both”, she demonstrates how masterfully she can transform this flexibility into a musical experience that gets right under your skin. What Marie Spaemann creates musically with just the sound of her instrument and her simultaneously fragile, yet powerfully soulful voice can certainly be described as great art. The songs on her EP are characterized by a beguiling beauty; they unfold in a mysteriously gentle sound that fills the room and penetrates deep into the soul with its warm vibrations. (Translated from the original by Michael Ternai, mica – music austria.)
End of September, LITTLE ELEMENT dropped her latest album – “Trippy Moon” – on Seayou Records. The new collection of tunes takes you on a hypnotic journey through dreamy soundscapes and enchanting melodies. Evoking a feeling of curiosity and adventure, the album makes you want to pack your bags immediately and venture to an unknown place with unknown outcomes. A dizzying mix of engulfing beats, upbeat rhythms, mellow tunes, soft vocals, and elaborate instrumentals, “Trippy Moon” sucks you in and doesn’t let you go. Check it out on Bandcamp and get your download-fingers ready.
HARRY DEAN LEWIS and JOE TRAXLER know how to enjoy themselves and they have no problem sharing their bounty with us, their audience. Upon releasing their second single “Fizz“, (in its first week) it received radio rotations in Germany (RBB Radio Eins) Ireland (RTE), France (48FM) and UK+America (Amazing Radio), whilst also getting a Spotify editorial playlist and entering the iTunes RnB and Soul Charts. Dreamy laid-back melodies sliced with banging rap bits delivers an all-around listening (or dancing) experience. The record in its entirety – “Three sides to a coin” – will be October 18, 2024 by Futuresfuture Records. Until then, take a big sip with “Fizz”:
CULK has released (Sep. 18) a cover of “Overload” for Ink Music’s “Death To the 00s” compilation. The original version of the eternally good song is by the London girl-group: Sugababes. The Viennese band Culk, fronted by Sophie Löw, knows how to lend the song its post-punk sound with a raunchy touch. Incidentally, Culk released its highly acclaimed album “Generation Maximum” in 2023, which was reviewed by the Guardian in “The best European culture of 2023”, among others. The Ink Music compilation features other new interpretations worth listening to by RAHEL, Sophie Lindinger, Panik Deluxe, Ivery, Lylit and Ant Antic, among others. (Translated from the original by Sophia Olesko, mica – music austria.)
When MIRA LU KOVACS makes music, one thing is certain: she touches people with it. Her new single “Shut The F*** Up And Let Go” is a self-exhortation cast in music that helps the musician to leave recurring negative thoughts behind her. With a full sound and earthy bass, Mira Lu Kovacs lets listeners take part in her inner journey. “It’s very nice to be allowed to have all your feelings. And you learn that gradually,” says the artist in an interview with Peter Schreiber. Her second solo album “Please, Save Yourself” will be released on November 8. (Translated from the original by Sophia Olesko, mica – music austria.)
EYE ON THE PRIZE
Big news! In September 2024, the opera “HIOB” by BERNHARD LANG (libretto and director Michael Sturminger, Stadtheater Klagenfurt) was awarded the Austrian Music Theater Prize for the best premiere performance. The millennia-old story of the God-fearing Job inspired Bernhard Lang to write his opera of the same name, which celebrated its world premiere at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt in 2023 with a libretto and direction by Michael Sturminger. A statement from the theater, Stadttheater Klagenfurt: “This award demonstrates the appeal of our Stadttheater Klagenfurt far beyond the borders of Carinthia and rewards us for our willingness to regularly bring contemporary music to the stage as an integral part of our program.” – Theater management Stadttheater Klagenfurt.
But that’s not all…! In the critics’ survey conducted by the magazine Opernwelt, the opera “DORA” by Bernhard Lang, based on a libretto by Frank Witzel, was chosen as the “Premiere of the Year 2024”! In addition to the performances in 2023/2024, the piece will be back in the repertoire of the Stuttgart State Opera from March 23, 2025.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Here we go, pack those bags (light, to save room for merch) and join these acts as they set out for some serious touring. ANDA MORTS hits the streets running with a Germany tour starting October 11th at Nürnberg Pop and ends on October 24th at Popkulturfestival in Regensburg. Can’t make it there? Don’t worry, you’ve got 9 other shows to hit in between… no excuses! ENDLESS WELLNESS and the LEFTOVERS are equally busy with their tours covering Germany in October and November. MOTHER’S CAKE takes the cake with 13 gigs spanning the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland from mid October to mid November. And LUKAS KÖNIG goes on tour through Europe (Italy, Serbia, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands) with American poet, musician, and activist from Philadelphia, now based in Los Angeles, Moor Mother. Every show will be worth experiencing, but the highlight will probably be their collaboration with Sun Ra Arkestra and Farida Amadou in Amsterdam on October 27th.
Music and class
The 2024 MMRC Lecture: Between Cultural Labor and Political Struggle: Music and Class
In view of the crisis-ridden character of global capitalism, the concept of class is receiving renewed attention across many scholarly disciplines. The 2024 MMRC Lecture invites different perspectives on the connections between class and music as a political instrument, an economic power relation and a creative, shared experience of self-determination and resistance across different geographical and historical contexts. The event will include keynote speaker, ethnomusicologist and anthropologist Ana Hofman (Institute of Culture and Memory Studies at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana) and guest, Cultural geographer and artist Anjeline de Dios (Manila), as well as a musical contribution of Mata Granata (Croatia/Vienna) feat. MC Andja Mitraljeza. The event is happening Monday, October 14, 2024. Location: mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna AND ONLINE! Check MMR event page for details. The lecture is free, but registration is required.
Arianna Alfreds